I spent most of the time at school, in my science lessons, thinking of football. I mustn't have been alone, as the word catalyst appears in football writing on a regular basis.
Now a catalyst in chemistry terms is a substance used to cause a rection between other substances that would otherwise not do anything. The amazing thing is, the catalyst plays no part in the reaction. (here ends my attempts to pretend I know about science)
So OK, before I bore you, there is a point. When Eric Cantona arrived at Manchester United, nobody thought much of it. A few years later he was being described as the catalyst for their dominance in the nineties. He turned a good team into something much, much better. Now obviously the flaw in the footballing application is that Cantona played his part in the reaction.
It's this difference between science and football that makes me so excited by the arrival and speedy integration of Fernando Morientes into Benitez's Liverpool. It is early yet, some might shoot me down for even proposing this, but Morientes looks a potential catalyst for a major shift in the fortunes of Liverpool Football Club. It is a lot of pressure to put on one player, but then, Morientes is no ordinary player.
Three Champions League winners medals. Spanish League titles. Leading goal scorer in last seasons Champions League. Morientes has played in World Cups, played in major European matches. He is the definition of the been there, bought the t-shirt superstar. Yet, he's not really a superstar, this is what makes Morientes so intriguing and it was ultimately his downfall at Madrid.
Morientes was just simply not glamerous enough for Madrid. The era of the Galacticos has resulted in a number of excellent footballers leaving that club to find football and a manager who appreciates them. Morientes wants to play football, wants to win, wants to enjoy. He is the ideal in the eyes of his new manager Rafael Benitez. Ultimately, he's gifted.
He is not quite the complete striker. He doesn't have the dazzling brilliance of Ronaldinho, the speed of Henry, the raw power of Shearer. Yet it doesn't matter, because he appears to have everything Liverpool need in the position he is to occupy. Take the position vacant signs down, Liverpool have the man for the job.
He works for his team. A simple requirement, but one in which too many players fail to make the grade. He has the intelligence to know when to drop deep and offer a link, when to play further forward. He's comfortable with back to goal, or facing it. With those two assets he brings an awareness of the play around him, being able to bring others into play in dangerous areas - the exquisite drag back to Traore against Fulham should be shown time and again. Already there are signs that Liverpool's other attacking players, noticeably Baros and Garcia are starting to appreciate Morientes' game. Like the catalyst, Morientes is having a positive reaction on those two players. Making them better players, more effective and allowing them to play their games. It is not just those two that will benefit, the whole team will.
He is however more than just a catalyst to better play, he's also the end product. His account currently stands at two goals. Two beautiful goals. The first showed everything you need to know about his ability with the ball at his feet. Facing goal, he calmly moved the ball from right foot to left, dropping the shoulder, deceiving the defender. Then with the space created, a shot delivered with his left foot from the edge of the box arrowed into top right corner of Dean Kiely's goal. Sheer brilliance. The second was a headed goal that showed Morientes' ability to defy gravity, to appear suspended in the air as the ball made it's way towards him. It is a special ability, it is one that Michael Jordan owns the patent to and few sportsmen can replicate. For the briefest of moments it seems that Morientes can fly. Then with the deftest of flicks, the ball redirected, found it's way into the corner of the goal. Two completely different goals in their conception, identical in the quality of their execution.
So it seems Liverpool fans have a very genuine reason to feel positive. They have a player with the ability, awareness and desire to be the catalyst of something special. We've been here before, Jari Litmanen was the last great hope. However the obvious difference right now is that Litmanen was in the closing stages of a great career increasingly hampered by injuries. Morientes, at just 28 years of age could well have his best years ahead of him. It's a mouth watering prospect.
without giving him the credit.
